Man charged with cruelty to animals in dog strangulation

IRWIN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man has been charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals for allegedly killing a dog police say he told them only died after he choked it for three hours.

Police in Westmoreland County were called to the Irwin home of 33-year-old Jason French on Tuesday afternoon.

Patrolman Michael Hooper found a black dog weighing about 30 pounds dead behind the house, and he alleges that French told him he strangled the animal with his hands because it "wouldn't stop barking."

The officer alleges that French showed no remorse, saying "It took me three hours to strangle that dog. You wouldn't think it would take long with a dog that size."

Court documents don't list an attorney for French. No listed phone number for him could be found Sunday.